Ethel volleyball picked the perfect time to play its best.
The Lady Tigers won the first two sets against West Lowndes Monday, 28-18 and 28-19, but lost the third set 25-15.
“We choked,” Coach Chris Schuster said.
That left the team's fate in the fourth set. In order to qualify for the MHSAA 1A playoffs, Ethel not only had to win the fourth set, but had to win by at least six points.
Jaden Black serving the ball.
Karen Fioretti / The Star-Herald
Mission accomplished. The Lady Tigers started fast and never let up, winning 25-10.
Noxapater won the three-team Region 5-1A with a 4-0 record. Ethel and West Lowndes both finished 1-3.
With two teams per region in the playoffs, the first tiebreaker is sets won head-to-head. West Lowndes won 3-1 in its first meeting Sept. 14, so it was 4-4 in total sets. The next tiebreaker is total points in the two matches. Going into Monday's fourth set, Ethel trailed 158-153, but came out on top 178-168.
“It's a big night for Ethel volleyball. It's our first trip to the state playoffs. Ever,” Schuster said.
He said it might not have been the team's best match. There were losses against some really good teams when the Lady Tigers played well. But he said the fourth set might have been the best of the season.
“We got it done. That's the main thing,” he said. “We played together. Trusting each other, trusting the process.”
Elena White got the ball rolling – actually flying – for Ethel in the final set, serving the Lady Tigers to a quick 5-0 lead. That was the key, Schuster said.
“You have to set the tone early,” to coach said.
The lead kept growing until the end.
“Serving is our best attribute. You get nervous when you are back there, and everybody is looking at you,” he said. “But we just got it together and made a few good serves.”
The first two sets were not as easy.
Ethel took an 11-5 lead in the opening set, but West Lowndes went on a 9-1 run for a 14-12 lead. There were six ties, the last one at 16-16.
Allison Thomas is setting the ball and Abbie Ellington is waiting to spike it.
Karen Fioretti / The Star-Herald
Ethel then took command with four straight points with Brailyn Rone serving. The Lady Tigers closed out the set on a service winner by Abbie Ellington.
West Lowndes cut a nine-point deficit in the second set to 21-17 before Ethel pulled away. Two points with Ellington serving made it 24-17. After West Lowndes scored twice the set ended when a West Lowndes serve flew long.
Ethel had a chance to wrap it up in the third set, but West Lowndes scored the final seven points for a victory that gave the Lady Panthers a brief lead in total points for the two matches.
Ethel will play 7-1A winner Bay Springs in the opening round of the playoffs next Tuesday. It will be a road match, but Schuster is just happy to be in the playoffs.
“I'll take on the road,” he said.
